chocolate peppermint protein balls (a no-bake recipe) (2024)

why we love this recipe

I have a major sweet tooth, as seen by ourdessert recipes, and protein balls are a great way to satisfy that craving. But they are always peanut butter and chocolate so I figured out the key to a high-protein protein ball with great texture.

Here's my secret to the best protein balls and why I love them so much!

• High-protein:I don’t mean to talk us up, but other protein balls have 4, maybe 6 grams of protein per ball meanwhile these have 9g!!
• No-bake:When you need something that doesn’t take up space in the oven, these are it.
• No-protein powder:I won’t knock protein powder, but the taste is just a bit much for the average person at holiday parties. That’s why using collagen is great because no one knows it’s there! Plus, you can just not use it if you don’t have it (these won’t have much protein then though).
• Almond flour: The key to this recipe is almond. Almonds are naturally high in protein, about1g higher than cashewson average. This makes almond products a great way to pack in extra protein without any extra effort.

So let us show you the exact steps and ingredients to making our beloved recipe!

recipe testing notes

Throughout our testing of these protein bites, we learned what worked and didn't work. Here are the key takeaways!

• Using protein powder: I made these initially with protein powder and they were awesome, but they also tasted like protein powder. So, I opted for collagen because it’s flavorless which leads to a wider appeal for a holiday party and house guests.
• Oat flour: Most energy bites use oat flour because they leave you with a really smooth texture like regular flour, so that’s how I tested them the first time. I settled on almond flour because it has way moreproteinthan oats making it an easy high-protein swap. Plus, it doesn't require a blender or food processor.

helpful tips

• The batter is thick and stiffso working the chocolate chips into it can be a workout, but that means it’s right. Just use your hands or a spatula to mash it together until all the liquid and chocolate chips are mixed in.
• If your almond butter is not drippyyou may need to add more milk 1 tablespoon at a time) to help the dough come together. The telltale sign of dry batter is that the batter is crumbly.

Can protein balls be frozen?

Yes, these can be frozen for up to 3 months in an airtight container.

Do protein balls go bad?

They will eventually. To avoid this, store them in the fridge for 2 weeks or the freezer as noted above. If they are left at room temperature, they will go bad because of the milk in them.

Can I make these if I don’t have collagen?

Yup, you can just leave the collagen out or if you have chocolate or vanilla protein powder, you can follow the steps above under Variations for making them with protein powder.

How should I scoop out the batter?

You can either use a cookie scoop or just use your hands. Because the batter is so thick, I find it easier to use my hands because the batter causes the cookie scoop release to stick. If it does stick, just wet your tools or hands with a little warm water.

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